Save Article

The EPA’s Own Email Problem

Another government employee, another private account, another crashed hard drive.

By

Kimberley A. Strassel

Aug. 27, 2015 7:31 p.m. ET

When a government official (think Hillary Clinton) uses a private email account for government work (think Hillary Clinton) and then doesn’t turn over records (think Hillary Clinton), the public has to wonder why. For an example of that why, consider Thursday’s federal-court subpoena of Phillip North.

The North story hasn’t gotten a lot of attention, but it is a useful tale for clarifying exactly why we have federal records and sunshine laws. You see, government workers don’t use private email because it is “convenient.” They...